antiterror13
Brigadier
Re: F91 Chinese OPV Export: News, Views, Pics & Videos
cheap and cheerful
cheap and cheerful
Chinese Naval Export: News, Views, Pics & Videos
- Thread starter philbob
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Re: F91 Chinese OPV Export: News, Views, Pics & Videos
It does look like a very nice entry into the 2nd and 3rd tier market for the Chinese.
The Nigerians are purchasing them as the P18N Offshore Patrol Vessels.
Here are their actual specifications:
Displacement: 1,800 tons
Length: 95 m
Width: 12.2 m
Beam: 3.5 m
Engines:
- 2 x MTU 20V 4000M Diesels
Speed: 21 knots
Crew: 70
Armament:
- 1 x 76mm H/PJ26 main DP gun
- 2 x 30mm H/PJ14 guns
It does look like a very nice entry into the 2nd and 3rd tier market for the Chinese.
The Nigerians are purchasing them as the P18N Offshore Patrol Vessels.
Here are their actual specifications:
Displacement: 1,800 tons
Length: 95 m
Width: 12.2 m
Beam: 3.5 m
Engines:
- 2 x MTU 20V 4000M Diesels
Speed: 21 knots
Crew: 70
Armament:
- 1 x 76mm H/PJ26 main DP gun
- 2 x 30mm H/PJ14 guns
Last edited:
peterAustralia
New Member
Re: F91 Chinese OPV Export: News, Views, Pics & Videos
I like these ships because they seem a good fit for purpose. Using diesels should mean lower operating costs and lower capital costs, lower maintenance costs. Lack of missiles means that much fewer expensive electronics to maintain, update, upgrade, calibrate, test etc. At 1800t and in steel these ships should have a long structural life, maybe 30 years. Being new there should be no issues with corrosion, or old wiring that can occur is second hand 'cheap' hand me down corvettes from say european navies.
Being new, they no doubt have modern radar, electrics, pumps etc which should be easier to maintain and additionally last longer than say equipment that has been used for 20 years. Thus I think these are a better buy that getting a cheap second hand corvette. Also 1800t is a nice size, not too big, not too small, a nice size for an OPV. End of rant.
I could go on about corruption in Nigeria and how a lot of the oil that is stolen is done in cahoots with the local authorities, however to fix the problem, you need both the will to crack down on corruption, plus the assets to enforce the measures to stop billions of dollars of oil being stolen. They may not have the political will to do what is needed, but at least they have the assets (ships and small patrol boats). Unfortunately if the poltical will to stop the oil smuggling is not there, these ships wont be as effective as they could be. Sorry for going off topic, I will leave it at that, its just a thing that annoys me a lot is all.
I like these ships because they seem a good fit for purpose. Using diesels should mean lower operating costs and lower capital costs, lower maintenance costs. Lack of missiles means that much fewer expensive electronics to maintain, update, upgrade, calibrate, test etc. At 1800t and in steel these ships should have a long structural life, maybe 30 years. Being new there should be no issues with corrosion, or old wiring that can occur is second hand 'cheap' hand me down corvettes from say european navies.
Being new, they no doubt have modern radar, electrics, pumps etc which should be easier to maintain and additionally last longer than say equipment that has been used for 20 years. Thus I think these are a better buy that getting a cheap second hand corvette. Also 1800t is a nice size, not too big, not too small, a nice size for an OPV. End of rant.
I could go on about corruption in Nigeria and how a lot of the oil that is stolen is done in cahoots with the local authorities, however to fix the problem, you need both the will to crack down on corruption, plus the assets to enforce the measures to stop billions of dollars of oil being stolen. They may not have the political will to do what is needed, but at least they have the assets (ships and small patrol boats). Unfortunately if the poltical will to stop the oil smuggling is not there, these ships wont be as effective as they could be. Sorry for going off topic, I will leave it at that, its just a thing that annoys me a lot is all.
Re: F91 Chinese OPV Export: News, Views, Pics & Videos
The Nigerians will get at least two of these. I believe the radar system is a British design, and those engines are German.
As their other major combatants/vessels, they have a German built Meko 360 H1, the NN Aradu, F89, and a refurbished Hamilton Class US Coast Guard Cutter, NN Thunder, F90, as their other vessels. The Aradu is an impressive naval frigate at 3,300 tons, with 8 SSMs and a 76mm main gun, which was built new and commissioned in 1982. The Thunder carries a 76mm gun too and displaces 3,250 tons. It was originally commissioned in 1968, but was refit, handed over, and commissioned by Nigeria in 2011.
These new built vessels, if well built and well maintained, will get more than 30 years service life out of them, as evidenced by the Hamilton class which are over 45 years old and still going.
Well, they will be cheaper to operate.
The Nigerians will get at least two of these. I believe the radar system is a British design, and those engines are German.
As their other major combatants/vessels, they have a German built Meko 360 H1, the NN Aradu, F89, and a refurbished Hamilton Class US Coast Guard Cutter, NN Thunder, F90, as their other vessels. The Aradu is an impressive naval frigate at 3,300 tons, with 8 SSMs and a 76mm main gun, which was built new and commissioned in 1982. The Thunder carries a 76mm gun too and displaces 3,250 tons. It was originally commissioned in 1968, but was refit, handed over, and commissioned by Nigeria in 2011.
These new built vessels, if well built and well maintained, will get more than 30 years service life out of them, as evidenced by the Hamilton class which are over 45 years old and still going.
peterAustralia
New Member
Trinidad and Tobago buying 1800t OPVs seemed very weird to me. Trinidad, the largest island is 80km x 60km, Tobago is much smaller. Logic would suggest that a larger number of smaller boats would make much more sense. Even Australia with a huge coastline uses 280t patrol boats. Yes these have been found to be a bit too small, however thats more how they are used as opposed to their design. You would have thought that 400t patrol boat would be heaps, even 200t might do, maybe even some smaller ones still. At 30 knots a patrol boat could travel all around the island in a few hours.
Looks as though the head of the navy wanted a large ship to feel important.
Looks as though the head of the navy wanted a large ship to feel important.
Dizasta1
Senior Member
Trinidad and Tobago is an oil rich Island-State and geographically is very close to Venezuela. I have been to this beautiful Island many times and always got the impression that this is a country which is not interested in any military expansionism. Trinidad was occupied by America during WW2 and prior to that, was a colony of the British Empire. Strategically located just off the northern tip of South American continent, it is the southern most Caribbean island-state in that region.
For decades Trinidad and Tobago have lived peacefully along side Venezuela and neighboring Caribbean island-states. So I cannot understand why Trinidad's navy (fairly non-existent) would need such large patrol vessels. Though they certainly have the money to spend on those goodies.
Good for China! And so to for Trinidad!!
For decades Trinidad and Tobago have lived peacefully along side Venezuela and neighboring Caribbean island-states. So I cannot understand why Trinidad's navy (fairly non-existent) would need such large patrol vessels. Though they certainly have the money to spend on those goodies.
Good for China! And so to for Trinidad!!
asif iqbal
Lieutenant General
Today if you give the requirements the Chinese can build any warships specific and tailored to customer needs this includes stealth warships too
They are cheaper and quickly delivered which makes them attractive to many country's
They are cheaper and quickly delivered which makes them attractive to many country's